Reinvention, Reinvigoration

Learning New Tricks

“We’re doing twice the work we used to do and getting paid the same.”

“This new machine’s not as good as what we had before.”

Are these common refrains from your work environment? Although we’re all no doubt busy, I tend to find that the underlying issues have more to do with technological frustration and change more than most other factors.

Consider the first statement, which essentially addresses the “do more with less” argument. It is entirely true that nearly all of us are and are required to be more productive than we were 20 or even 10 years ago. Yet, look at the tools that are now at our disposal. Computer speeds are faster than ever. A single cell phone has more capability than the early computers that helped us land on the moon. Groceries and other goods are delivered to our doorsteps often within a day or even hours of ordering. Scientists developed an immunization for a threatening and sometimes deadly virus in less than a year, far exceeding our expected standards.

So yes, most of us are doing more than we used to do, yet with the aid of technology. If we are still where we were in 2001, we have simply not kept up.

Still, learning how to Zoom, text, or even email can be uncomfortable propositions for many. The reward for first tackling the challenge and then succeeding at it can be immensely rewarding.

In my work in college football, basketball, baseball, and softball for ESPN I provide statistical data and observations to the “on air” broadcasters during the course of a telecast. Basically the job description summary is to share information during an event that will enrich the production and allow the announcers to come across as even more informed and up to date than they already are.

Although sports has slowly made a return during Covid, the broadcasts are different. For one, there may or may not be fans in attendance. Further, the on air talent may not even be present, announcing from a room or basement in their home or some other venue. The same goes for me: out of the events I have been assigned and worked thus far in 2021 all have been from my home office in Florida.

I recall my very first remote production a few months back. Admittedly not as technically proficient as I would like to be, I was overwhelmed at how I was going to adapt, produce quality information, and communicate it effectively. From that experience, I developed a step-by-step formula that not only worked for me, but that I believe can apply to many of the challenges any of us face to make them seem not so intimidating. If I may share:

1. First of all be grateful that the powers that be have demonstrated the confidence in your abilities to entrust you with the responsibility. They may very well see or know some things that are not so readily apparent to you.

2. The long-time question and adage of “how do you eat an elephant?, “one bite at a time,” is very helpful. Break the project down into smaller increments.

3. Seek advice next from those who may have some experience with the same or a similar challenge.

4. Begin tackling the undertaking from the perspective of what you do know. For me that translates to studying game notes and statistics from a variety of websites and transferring that information into the format and tools with which I have most familiarity.

5. Next, tackle the technology options that are most comfortable. For me that is Zoom. In my instance it also meant acquiring two laptops to begin with—one for the live game broadcast and another in which to communicate notes specifically to on air talent.

6. A third laptop was then to be added to the equation in order to receive “live” or current statistical information.

7. Assure that internet connectivity is strong and that there is reliable back up, such as a cell phone “hot spot” in order to remedy a communications void.

8. Speaking of the cell phone, it plays a role in continuing to serve as a communication device, however, through an app that allows the ability to talk to the announcers and production truck, much like a headset at an on site event.

9. Finally take a deep breath, say a prayer, have a good show, and feel gratified that you did it.

Resourcefulness feels good. These sophisticated times of ours also provide a reminder that none of us are ever too old to learn new things. It is good for me to get a taste of obstacles similar to those I task to my coaching clients.

What is the new challenge that you’re going to take on?

The Seed Sower

Reinvention, Reinvigoration

October 21, 2026

Many of us recall the advice of our fathers when we reached adulthood: get a job with a good company that offers decent pay and benefits and build a career. Post-World War II that’s what they had done or were planning to do. In their mind that seemed to work out ok.

Today, the average person is not only going to change jobs 12 times in their lifetime but change careers up to seven times! That may be your story, yet even the most distinguished among us notably switched careers at some point.

Jackie Robinson famously broke the color line in professional baseball when he first appeared on the field as a Brooklyn Dodger in 1947. Following a ten-season career that included seven All Star game appearances and an MVP award, he would have appeared to be set for a further career in baseball either as a coach, manager, or in the front office. Instead, he moved into a corporate career becoming the vice president of personnel for a major coffee company, as well as an advocate for employees at that same organization and spokesperson for the NAACP.

More recently former six-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Fame inductee Amar’e Stoudemire graduated from the Miami Dade College Police Academy. He has now joined the Miami-Dade School police department as a police officer. In order to qualify, Stoudemire completed a nine-month police program totaling nearly 900 hours and then dedicated an additional four months to in-house training. He explained that he has family members in law enforcement and that becoming a police officer was always a childhood dream.

Many of us will recall an entertainer from outside of sports, Fred Rogers, the infamous Mr. Rogers from children’s programing on public television. Rogers was ordained a minister by the Pittsburgh, PA presbytery following graduation from seminary studies. His official ministry charge was that rather than serve in a traditional local parish or church building function he was commissioned instead to specifically develop a ministry for children and families utilizing the then still developing medium of television for outreach.

Jack Roy struggled financially early in his vocational career. He always had a penchant for comedic arts but found that calling less than lucrative. Roy served a brief stint as a singing waiter but was fired from that assignment. Now with a family to support he took a job selling aluminum siding for a time. He realized though, that his real dream was not being fulfilled and set out once more into the realm of performing arts understanding that he needed a unique brand to achieve any success. He asked a club owner to promote him with a different name and gradually came to gather momentum with a series of local gigs, eventually expanding not only to national awareness, but guest appearances on some of the more prominent shows of the 1960’s such as Dean Martin, Ed Sullivan, and Johnny Carson.

Roy became Rodney Dangerfield and eventually earned “respect.”

Prominent politicians have also pursued different assignments. The sixth president, John Quincy Adams, served one term in that office. Following a brief retirement, he ran for and was elected to a congressional seat as a representative from his home state of Massachusetts, where he served for 18 years until his death. Another one-term president, Jimmy Carter, became aware of a fledgling organization near his Georgia hometown that constructed affordable housing. His voluntary involvement helped spur Habitat for Humanity to become a hugely successful not-for-profit organization, specifically designed to bring housing opportunity for those who would otherwise find it unaffordable. Former president Carter spent many weekends swinging a hammer and fulfilling a variety of assigned tasks where needed.

Another former president, George W. Bush, took up a paint brush after reading an essay about Winston Churchill. Following instruction from an area art teacher as well as a professional artist he began by painting everyday objects such as fruit, pets, and landscapes. As his abilities and expertise continued to improve, he painted a collection of oil portraits of post-911 military members followed several years later by portraits of American immigrants.

Though we may not be a former professional athlete, entertainer, or president, is there a particular latent dream that lurks inside of you? What holds you back? Have you ever thought about possessing a particular gift or talent that needs to be unleashed for the benefit of others?

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

The Seed Sower

WHEN THE CHEERING STOPS

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

Planting seeds of confidence . . .

Reinvention, Reinvigoration

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WHEN THE CHEERING STOPS

Kirk McCarley, The Seed Sower Coach

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